JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

Next Year: Proposed
to
Hunting
in New Jersey
By Carole Kandoth, Principal Biologist
Rabbit and Hare
Opening day of rabbit season will move forward from
the second week in November to the last Saturday in
September.
The opening day of small game traditionally starts on the Saturday
closest to November 10 to allow farmers time to harvest crops.
This proposal maintains that tradition by keeping the November
opening day timing for pheasants, chukar and quail. An earlier
rabbit/hare season should not interfere with farming activities
since rabbit hunting involves hedgerows, old fields and most often
uses a dog to flush and chase game back to the stationary hunter.
An earlier open also provides ample opportunity for rabbit/hare
hunters to enjoy their sport when rabbit populations are most
abundant plus will allow hunting on WMAs without encountering
bird hunters and trappers. Private landowners can choose not to
allow the earlier open on their property.
Fisher
Add fisher to the Game Code in the section covering
raccoon, fox, opossum, weasel and coyote trapping,
with a closed season.
New Jersey is at the southern portion of the fisher’s natural range;
restoration projects are ongoing in New York and Pennsylvania.
It is believed that fisher may be migrating southwest into New
Jersey from New York’s Catskill Mountains. There have been two
confirmed sightings (Frelinghuysen Twp., Warren County 2004;
Stokes State Forest, Sussex County 2006), and seven unconfirmed
sightings from June through December 2007. Game species
designation will clarify the fisher’s status as a protected furbearer
with a closed season.
Coyote
Increase the coyote season length for the special permit
night season.
The current season runs from the second week of January to
the third week in February. The proposal opens the season from
January 1 through March 15 plus removes the bag limit. Coyotes
are well established through all 21 counties. Damage complaints
have increased and attacks on humans have occurred. An increased
number of permit applications prove an increased hunter interest.
Grouse - Create two hunting zones
divided by Rt. 70 with seasonally-adjusted opening
days.
This confers some protection to the southern population
where suitable habitat is in short supply.
Wild Turkey
There are three proposed changes for turkey.
1.) Open spring turkey season one week later, decreasing the
season length by one week.
Spring seasons should coincide with the onset of egg
incubation by hens. A cooperative research project among
eastern states shows that the optimal time for a season opener
is around April 25 for northern New Jersey and April 20 for the
south. Under this proposal, opening days would fall between
April 19 and 26. A later opener will disturb clutching hens
less, plus should reduce illegal hen harvest. A later date will
also better coincide with the second peak in gobbling activity,
as more hens will be on the nest and fewer will be with toms.
This proposal will help offset the turkey population decline
of the past several years in the central portion of the state.
2.) Redefine the boundaries of Turkey Hunting Areas (THAs)
15, 20 and 21.
Turkey harvest densities have increased in the southern
portion of THA 15 over the past 10 years. The southern
part of THA 15 will be moved into THAs 20 and 21. This
adjustment will open up the shifted areas to fall turkey
hunting. The transfer of the appropriate number of permits
from THA 15 to THAs 20 and 21 has been calculated based
upon land area and hunter densities.
3.) Remove THAs 6, 7 and 10 from the fall hunting season.
The criteria to open a THA for fall hunting is an annual
harvest of greater than or equal to one gobbler per square
mile of turkey habitat for three consecutive years. If the
gobbler harvest in a THA open to fall hunting drops to below
0.75 gobblers/mile sq. for three years in a row, that THA will
be removed from the fall hunting season. THAs 6, 7 and 10
meet the criteria for removal.
80 | New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Digest Buy your license or permit online at August 2008
2008 Hunting and Trapping Issue www.NJFishandWildlife.com